EL PASO, Texas – Ever wonder what the animals at the El Paso Zoo are doing after hours? The El Paso Zoo is hosting late evening hours with its Zoo After Howlers, presented by MetroPCS, this Saturday, August 20.

This is the last Zoo After Howlers extended hour evenings this summer. The Zoo will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. on these days. Last entrance will be at 7 p.m. Regular admission applies.

Live music and entertainment includes performances by 7th Ave. from 3 to 5 p.m. and Rockabilly Strangers from 6 to 8 p.m. in addition to an interactive stilt walker and evening fire show. Guests will also be able to enjoy regular Zoo activities, including special themed animal programs. The August theme is “Scoop on Poop,” and includes elephant poo paper making demonstrations and poo bio facts where guest can “Match the Feces to the Species.” Additionally, the Zoo will host an “Artworks for Change” exhibit with art by the Zoo’s animals, where guests can be inspired to paint and create their own art.

Favorite Zoo activities, including animal encounters and a special evening giraffe feeding, will occur during the Zoo’s extended evening hours for guests to enjoy.

All attractions will be open for guests. The Hunt Family Desert Spring and Foster Tree House Playground will be available into the evening so the kiddoes can enjoy. Evening hours will not only offer fun, but will offer families an outing during cooler summer hours. The Zoo’s ticket booth and membership office will close at 7 p.m. Staff will begin to take animals off exhibit at 7:45 p.m. Zoo grounds will close at 8:30 p.m.

EL PASO, Texas – Zoo guests had so much fun at the first Pokémon Go Safari Night, the Zoo is hosting a second evening for borderland trainers to come “catch ‘em all!” Find Pokémon and see your favorite animals at the El Paso Zoo Pokémon Go Safari Nights from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, August 13.

There is a $10 fee for all guests ages 3 and up to attend the Pokémon Go Safari Night. All regular concessions and snack carts will be open, and beer and wine will be available for sale at this special after-hour’s event. Advance tickets are now available. Advance ticket holders will be able to “skip the lines” with a special advance ticket line.

The Zoo will operate during its normal business hours and close at 5 p.m. on August 13. The Zoo will reopen at 6 p.m. and animals will begin to go off exhibit at 7:45 p.m. The last entry to the special Pokémon Go Safari Night is at 9 p.m. and the Zoo will close at 10 p.m.

The Zoo has its own Gym, 17 Pokéstops, water Pokémon and several rare Pokémon – including Charmander, Pikachu and Snorlax. Pokéstops are places in Pokémon Go that allow players to collect items, such as eggs and Pokéballs, which are necessary to catch Pokémon. Gyms are where players train and battle with the characters they caught.

The Zoo will drop two lures (which attract and hold Pokémon for 30 minutes) in two locations (four total lures) every 15 minutes from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The lure locations hints will be available in advance on the Zoo’s Twitter profile. An additional 20 lures will be dropped at secret locations throughout the Zoo.

The Zoo has free Wi-Fi powered by Digital El Paso. The El Paso Electric Company will be providing charging stations for players to power up.

EL PASO, Texas –The El Paso City Council approved the contract for the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) for the El Paso Zoo premier Quality of Life Bond (QOL) Chihuahuan Desert project to Jordan Foster LLC, a local construction management firm. This $10 million signature project will replace approximately 20 percent of Zoo exhibits.

“Utilizing the CMAR method is the best choice for this type of project due to its complexity, budget and unique outcome,” said Steve Marshall, Zoo Director.

As a result of the distinct design and interactive features, the Zoo selected CMAR as an alternative contracting method because of the potential to save money and time. CMAR allows the three parties, designer, contractor and owner, to be present early in the design phase. This kind of relationship permits all parties to provide their expertise and feedback at the onset of the project to produce an exciting and one-of-a-kind exhibit for the community to enjoy.

This Quality of Life Bond project is part of the Zoo’s master plan, which is the framework for moving the Zoo forward in an innovative direction. On November 6, 2012, El Paso voters approved $470 million worth of improvements to parks, libraries, museums, downtown and the El Paso Zoo. The ballot question received an overwhelming 75 percent response in favor of approving the Quality of Life Bond Issue.